What is the Discharge Lounge?
The Discharge Lounge at Pilgrim Hospital is available 24/7 for patients awaiting discharge from hospital when treatment has ended on the ward or Emergency Department. It provides a comfortable environment for patients waiting to go home or other care settings.
You will be asked to wait for your discharge documents, medications, transport and care arrangements whilst here.
Facilities
The Discharge Lounge has 10 beds and 8 chairs for patients waiting to go home and is staffed by a team of nurses, clinical health care support workers and volunteers. We are also supported by therapy teams and adult social care should you require support.
The nursing team can help you with your medications and personal care.
Hot meals, snacks and drinks are provided throughout the day. There is a seated area with a TV, books, magazines and activities available.
There are clean clothes available if required as we encourage all patients to be discharged in clothing rather than hospital wear.
Day of Discharge
- When your doctor feels you can go home, they will need to prepare your discharge letter and any follow up appointments.
- On the day of your discharge, you will be collected from your ward and transferred to the Discharge Lounge by one of our friendly team along with your belongings and any medications. A discharge plan will be given to you by the team on your current ward and then communicated to the team on the Discharge Lounge.
- You will need to wait for your discharge letter and any medications from the pharmacy. Please be aware this may take some time and is generally in the late afternoon.
- You will need to make the team aware of your transport arrangements. Where possible we ask that you are collected by family/friends. Hospital transport is available and will need to be booked in advance but only when other methods of transport are not available.
- We will keep you informed of the discharge process and update your family as required.
Thank you for using the Discharge Lounge – if you have any questions, please telephone 01205 445514.
By transferring to the Discharge Lounge, you are enabling another person to be admitted to a ward and cared for in the appropriate environment. This helps us to reduce waiting times in Accident and Emergency and improve our quality of care.
The Discharge Lounge is located near the restaurant above the children’s clinic.